The Newburgh Sanctuary is bringing back its beloved We Love Crystal Lake series with a vibrant Summer Celebration on July 11th — and we at Outdoor Promise are proud to be part of it. This free, multilingual, culturally rich festival is designed to break down social and economic barriers and invite residents of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature, celebrate community, and nourish themselves on the land.
Crystal Lake is Newburgh’s largest natural greenspace — 109 acres in the 3rd Ward, the only city ward without a formally designated park. Since 2020, the Newburgh Sanctuary has been stewarding this land as a healing community garden centered on Black, Asian, Indigenous, and Latinx residents. This summer gathering is the first of three seasonal celebrations aimed at building local pride and spotlighting the ongoing community stewardship of Crystal Lake.
The day is packed with entirely free activities: kayaking, thrifting, tarot readings, nature-based arts, free haircuts, a salsa dancing workshop open to all skill levels, and live music funded in part by Arts Mid-Hudson. And yes — there’s a free community meal by Sabores de mi Tierra.
We’ll be kicking things off at 3:00 PM with a guided community hike. Come walk the land with us.
Event Schedule
3:00 PM Guided Community Hike led by Outdoor Promise
3:00 – 5:00PM Drop-in activities — free haircuts, thrifting, tarot readings, nature arts, garden walks
4:00PM Salsa workshop — all skill levels welcome
5:00PM Free community meal by Sabores de mi Tierra
6:00 – 6:45PM Live music — Pulso de Barro
6:45 – 7:30PM Live music — Daniel Villegas’ Libre Band
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